Cooper City To Consider Expanding Hours Of Fire Department Operation

COOPER CITY — City officials are considering beginnng 24-hour coverage for both fire stations, instead of staffing them during the day only, and increasing the firefighter staff by 11.

The decision to investigate going to 24-hour coverage came after a federal government ruling that requires state and municipal governments to follow the Fair Wage Standard Act, which mandates the governments to pay minimum wage to reserve firefighters, instead of paying them by shift, according to City Manager Chris Farrell.

Following the federal law is forcing Cooper City to budget an additional $94,000 in its Fire Department budget.

In order to have a full-time, 24-hour staff, the department would have to budget yet another $120,000, Farrell said.

``It`s now so costly to provide coverage, that the 24-hour coverage may be the reasonable thing to do,`` Farrell said.

City staff originally proposed increasing the Fire Department roster by two firefighters so the city could provide full-time coverage from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Rock Creek fire station on Stonebridge Parkway.

The city currently has full-time firefighters manning the east fire station at 9090 SW 50th Place during the day with reservists taking over at night.

Reserve firefighters were paid by shift before the federal law changed the situation.

The extra $120,000 to start a full-time, 24-hour Fire Department will be trimmed out of other department funds, according to Farrell.

``My perception is people are willing to support or endorse a tax increase if they are getting additional protection,`` he said.

``It`s a great amount when you`re cutting from every department, but our primary goal for the residents is public safety. To put 11 full-time firefighters in is a very costly but important proposal, if there`s going to be that available manpower to respond to an emergency like that.``

Reservists would still supplement the department during sick time and vacations, Farrell said.

The staff will make recommendations about the 24-hour service early next week.

The city also is investigating creation of a public safety officer program to supplement full-time firefighters. Public safety officers would be police officers who are trained as firefighters as well.